While walking down the aisle of Michaels (where I always seem to inexplicably end up during my spare time), this clay stuff caught my eye. It’s called Crayola Model Magic. It’s made for little kids. I don’t care, I want to play! Intrigued, I bought a small tub for $3.49 and I have to say, I’m really impressed with this stuff!! It’s light and airy so when it hardens, it’s not heavy at all. It makes you feel like you are working with a light marshmallow fondant. And it’s not wet and messy like other clay that I’ve worked with. The best part is that it air dries- no need to bake or fire! (Tangent: In college I took a raku pottery class and everyday I was convinced that I was going die an early death. We had to fire the clay pieces in a makeshift “kiln”- basically an inverted aluminum garbage can and pile of bricks- in a dirt patch behind the dorm. Did I mention that I am ridiculously scared of fire? I have never lit a match in my life. My job was to extinguish the fire with a garden hose after the glaze got hot enough to oxidize. I would whimper, stand far back, shutmy eyes and try to blindly direct the hose towards the blazing rubble. Still. Have. Nightmares. ) So this “no bake” stuff is awesome, I don’t even have to get near the oven.
I decided to make some gift tags. I love giving presents and I love giving prettily wrapped presents even more!
Materials needed: Crayola Model Magic clay, rolling pin, cookie cutters, mini alphabet stamps, wooden chopsticks, parchment paper (not pictured)
1. Roll out the clay on parchment paper in between a pair of chopsticks. The chopsticks kept the clay nice and level:
2. Use your cookie cutter to cut out a shape. For this gift tag, I used a small circular vase that I had:
3. Stamp letters with alphabet stamps:
4. Use chopstick to create a small hole at the top to hang the tag:
5. Dry. I found that it took a full 48 hours for these to dry completely:
6. Attach to gifts!
You can also use this same technique to make Christmas ornaments!
Linked at: TeaRose Home
Hi! And welcome to my site! I hope you find something that inspires you while you are here. 
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
This is awesome! What a great project. Also, your post made me laugh. You are hilarious, my friend. Keep up the good work!
Love these ilene!!
Santi and I have started a new tradition…for each Christmas of our married life we are going to give each other an ornament for Christmas…something to signify the year or a favorite memory…now maybe we can make our own next year! : ) Love, Evie xoxo
Love how these turned out. Sweet!
Nice stopping by to meet you!
Kindly, Lorraine
I love it! This seems like a great alternative to regular, paper tags. Definitely a way to pleasantly surprise somebody.
Very cute! How did you color in the pink heart? Did it you it before or after it dried?
hi kelly! i painted the heart after it dried
I love it! Did you use a marker, paint, etc.?
i had a little acrylic paint so I just painted it
Thanks for the clear and detailed tutorial. I’m so happy to find a method that does not require baking the clay. I hope mine turn out as nice as yours!
Ah, I love these. Once again…thanks!!!!!
What a great idea! Fun, easy, creative and personal. I know I have some of that stuff somewhere…..I wonder what its shelf-life is? Thanks for the inspiration. Hope you come visit me at http://altered-artworks.blogpost.com.
This is so clever! They’re precious!
Great tutorial!! I would love to try this myself…maybe even make some earrings with it too. Thank you very much for taking time to put this tut together and share with us. These gift tags are sooo cute!
I’ve been checking out a bunch of tutorials on line for clay tags. All use the Fimo. Yours is the first that uses air dry type clay. Can’t wait to try it. Thanks
With that crayola clay stuff, you can color a bit of it with marker and knead in the ink to make different color clays
Hi Ilene! I love these clay tags! My question is, are those regular rubber stamps that you used, or are they metal stamp alphabet letters?
Thanks for sharing and responding.
Hi Missy! I used just the regular rubber stamps and they worked fine. If they stick a little to clay maybe dunk them in a little water first. Good luck!!
Thanks! I made some and am so pleased with my experimental first batch. Either this weekend or over Thanksgiving holidays I plan to make more.
Hi Ilene,
I just found your website today and havent been able to stop browsing (even though I’m supposed to be working)
Could you possibly point me in the direction of somewhere that sells these alphabet stamps please? Or something similar?
Thanks!
Talia,
I had actually used some rubber alphabet stamps that I bought in the $1 section at Target. They worked great! Just make sure that you buy a small font. You may also be able to pick them up in the $1 (or very cheap) section at Michael’s….and possibly Hobby Lobby.
Hope that helps. I sure enjoyed making my tags!
Does it harden to rock like or is it bendy? I’ve used polymer clay and fimo and they both turn out to be bendy. I’m looking for hard and stiff. If you would let me know that would be awesome!!!
it doesn’t harden like rock, but its not bendy either. its sort of light and airy to the touch, sort of like meringue but much tougher than meringue and it doesn’t fall apart.
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